All ships should have a dedicated fuel scoop slot built-in.

[Toffmeister]

Beware what you ask for. If Fdev start dictating what they feel is an "Adequate" scoop size for a given ship, then that ship may become useless.

Shall we give the AspEx a size 4 scoop slot? I mean, a size 4 is "adequate"...and would kill the AspEx dead!


Nope. Leave the FS size/type and need to the commander. I don't trust Fdev with the FS slot/size.

 

[MadDogMurdock]

I agree, it seems very illogical that a module responsible for scooping hydrogen from outerspace would be mounted inside a ship. So having it occupy an Internal Compartment makes no sense. Logically it would have to be some kind of vent that opened up on the outside and took in more fuel the greater the area it covered. Since it adds zero mass, it should just be some kind of door or hatch, or series of doors or hatches with magnetic funnels leading towards the fuel tank. As you can see from the ship design, pretty much every ship has forward mounted exhaust, or retrograde thrusters which could double as fuel intakes.

From a gameplay point of view, I get that making outfitting priorities creates some much needed "tension" and sensation of player agency when outfitting your ship. However, I also think that since we have specialized Military slots and Commerce Slots, then why don't exploration ships have specialized Science Slots for fuel scoops and sensors? All of which should be externally mounted? I mean seriously, having internally mounted sensors makes as much sense as taking pictures with camera that never leaves the trunk of your car.

Ah, but you forget about the compression and cooling systems to condense that diffuse gas into a usable form of fuel.
The more you're able to scoop, the bigger the kit needed to do that.

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

Beware what you ask for. If Fdev start dictating what they feel is an "Adequate" scoop size for a given ship, then that ship may become useless.

Shall we give the AspEx a size 4 scoop slot? I mean, a size 4 is "adequate"...and would kill the AspEx dead!


Nope. Leave the FS size/type and need to the commander. I don't trust Fdev with the FS slot/size.

Depends on what you're using your AspX for:

Exploration - size 6
Rares trading - size 5
General mission running - size 3
Combat - size 3 or none at all

All this just means that I completely agree that FDev should leave it entirely up to us to decide

I always wondered the opposite, like how it was in FE2, only certain ships could fit fuel scoops.

What it only the Scouts and Explorers and Liners could fit fuel scoops at all, and the rest were limited to fuel tanks

ALL ships can be used as explorers. Please don't remove that ability.

 

[Stealthie]

ALL ships can be used as explorers. Please don't remove that ability.

Was just about to post exactly the same thing.

Picking and choosing which ships get critical components means you're limiting people's choices to do what they want.

I just spent a very pleasant month wandering the galaxy in a T10.

"I'm sorry but you can't do that 'cos it's a combat ship"

 

[jmp470]

And where will it end...? Dedicated hangar slot? Dedicated shield gen slot, etc etc...? Then who decides how big the fuel scoop slot is? Class 5 fuel scoop slot on an Anaconda? No thanks.

The crux of your argument is that you are unwilling to remove the SRV hangar from your Eagle therefore there needs to be a dedicated slot for fuel scoops so that you can outfit the ship the way YOU want. You're just going to have to deal with the limitations of your chosen ship. Choose a half decent fuel scoop, an SRV... or another ship. The game shouldn't need changing because a player is inflexible...

i disagree, as the game morphs, the ships need to morph with it as it is, all ships need to have more internal slots, as their is more to do in the game now. Beyond 3.0 will make medium and small ships obsolete if they do not make changes to the game. One way to do that is to provide fuel scoops on every ship.

 

[MadDogMurdock]

i disagree, as the game morphs, the ships need to morph with it as it is, all ships need to have more internal slots, as their is more to do in the game now. Beyond 3.0 will make medium and small ships obsolete if they do not make changes to the game. One way to do that is to provide fuel scoops on every ship.

I can see the too many modules argument, but surely Shields would become a core module long before Fuel Scoops come into the picture.

 

[Stealthie]

i disagree, as the game morphs, the ships need to morph with it as it is, all ships need to have more internal slots, as their is more to do in the game now. Beyond 3.0 will make medium and small ships obsolete if they do not make changes to the game. One way to do that is to provide fuel scoops on every ship.

Just buy more ships.

Sure, if they created, say, 10 new models dedicated to exploration then there might be a case for adding slots to various ships.

As it is, surely it's just a bit unrealistic to expect you can have, say, a Cobra that can explore, mine, carry cargo and bounty-hunt all at the same time?

 

[MadDogMurdock]

Just buy more ships.

Sure, if they created, say, 10 new models dedicated to exploration then there might be a case for adding slots to various ships.

As it is, surely it's just a bit unrealistic to expect you can have, say, a Cobra that can explore, mine, carry cargo and bounty-hunt all at the same time?

Well erm, back in my day...

 

[Vasious]

ALL ships can be used as explorers. Please don't remove that ability.

Was just about to post exactly the same thing.

Picking and choosing which ships get critical components means you're limiting people's choices to do what they want.

I just spent a very pleasant month wandering the galaxy in a T10.

"I'm sorry but you can't do that 'cos it's a combat ship"

I really don't think there is any risk of it.

More just a thought on "what if?", and does make one appreciate exactly the points you raise of ALL ships can be used as explorers by choosing how they are outfitted with the freedom we have.

 

[MadDogMurdock]

I really don't think there is any risk of it.

More just a thought on "what if?", and does make one appreciate exactly the points you raise of ALL ships can be used as explorers by choosing how they are outfitted with the freedom we have.

True that. One of the reasons I don't really like the restricted Military and Passenger slots.
Wrong approach to specializing ships.

 

[Stealthie]

More just a thought on "what if?", and does make one appreciate exactly the points you raise of ALL ships can be used as explorers by choosing how they are outfitted with the freedom we have.

One thing that might be nice would be for FDev to find a way to stick your NPC Crew in a cockpit seat so you could use them to do stuff.

I mean, you want a docking computer?
It costs you a few thousand credits and, more importantly, fills up a slot.
It might be nice if, as an alternative, you could get that guy who you're paying millions of credits to land your ship for you instead of using a DC.

 

[Captain Willard]

YEAH I can see fd redesigning all ships. Never going to happen. Get rid of my class 7a fuel scoop on my clipper with a 16 gal tank? NEVA

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

One thing that might be nice would be for FDev to find a way to stick your NPC Crew in a cockpit seat so you could use them to do stuff.

I mean, you want a docking computer?
It costs you a few thousand credits and, more importantly, fills up a slot.
It might be nice if, as an alternative, you could get that guy who you're paying millions of credits to land your ship for you instead of using a DC.

I really like that idea!

Personally, I have no interest in NPC crew (I like being a lone wolf) and I've been worried that FDev will force me to hire one in order to do some core activity (I'm looking at you, Q4 exploration update), but by having them act as a REPLACEMENT for a module means that I can live without them without locking myself out of gameplay.

I'm sure this idea could be extended beyond the DC - maybe the KWS, DSS, AFMU and limpet controllers? Definitely the latter two, I think.

 

[Marklar_]

One thing that might be nice would be for FDev to find a way to stick your NPC Crew in a cockpit seat so you could use them to do stuff.

I mean, you want a docking computer?
It costs you a few thousand credits and, more importantly, fills up a slot.
It might be nice if, as an alternative, you could get that guy who you're paying millions of credits to land your ship for you instead of using a DC.

I like that idea, and I want to see NPC crew on the bridge even if it's just cosmetic.

But I'd settle for SLF pilots not taking a cut of my trading profits while they're kicking it back in the pilot's lounge [mad]

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

While that would be nice, its also fun to work around the problem.

- Stay in the bubble. I remember before i knew what a fuel scoop was (not even close to how to use one) finding a station to refuel at was an awesome experience.
- Upgrade to the courier. Has its own outfitting challenges, but similar experience.

 

[Stealthie]

I'm sure this idea could be extended beyond the DC - maybe the KWS, DSS, AFMU and limpet controllers? Definitely the latter two, I think.

Yeah, that was just the first example I could think of.

Ideally, I'd like to see them sat in the co-pilot's seat and, when you turn to face them, some kind of "dialogue wheel" pops up like the HUDs do.

It'd have commands such as:-
"Dock with the targeted station"
"Land on the planet surface"
"Scan all targets within range"
"launch the fighter"
"Man the weapons"
"Take care of energy management"
"Deploy Collector limpets"
Etc.

Basically, allow the NPC crew to do all the multitasking stuff that you usually have to do yourself.

The idea would be that you'd have the choice of either hiring an NPC and paying them a heap of credits in preference to, say, engineering turreted weapons for better accuracy or increasing the capabilities of your scanners etc.

Ideally, you'd instruct the NPC to launch the SLF and you'd see them climb out of the seat and head out of the cockpit, either to prepare it for you to fly or to fly it themselves.

 

[Arindor]

Isn't part of the "fun" with ED deciding what to modules carry and not to carry?

It's a hearty "No!" from me.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

I'd like to add a rider to this suggestion then that would see the removal of the largest non-dedicated slot from all ships to compensate for addition of the new slot. And a second rider that would make bacon mandatory for breakfast.

 

[Penny Umbra]

If you need a fuel-scoop you need to fit fuel-scoop, yes. But, there is choice, the range of scoops available lets you choose a scoop appropriate to your circumstances.

When I'm chosing a fuel-scoop for an explorer (or racer) build, I generally use the largest A-rated scoop I can fit in my ship. This gives me faster scoops, with less overheating, allowing me to start the FSD spooling as soon as the cooldown ends.

For a ship that only needs to get across the bubble, a cheaper b-rated small scoop will do. I use one in my FdL and switch to a HRM or MRM at my destination, and in my T-class trucks to stretch their range beween re-fills at a station.


A one-size-fits-all fuel-vent on the other hand would very useful for explorers. It would be fantastic to be able to drop a ton of fuel at a time to adjust jumprange.

 

[Stealthie]

I'd like to add a rider to this suggestion then that would see the removal of the largest non-dedicated slot from all ships to compensate for addition of the new slot. And a second rider that would make bacon mandatory for breakfast.

I can predict how the first one would go down.

Spoiler

And no promises of breakfast bacon will help.